Deck lid hinge



Feb. 27, 1951 J. H. RoETHEL 2,543,600

DECK LID HINGE Filed Sept. 29, 1944 Patented Feb. 27, 1951 DECK LIDHINGE John H. Roethel, Detroit, Mich., assignor to Eoethel Engineering VCorporation,

Detroit,

Mich., a corporation of Michigan Application September 29, 1944, SerialNo. 556,318

Claims.

This invention relates to hinges for swinging lids or closures and isespecially useful in connection with swinging doors or lids ofautomobiles or vehicle bodies, such as deck, trunk and hood lidsthereof. I

An object of the invention is to provide a hinge for an upwardlyswinging closure or lid which is provided with improved relativelysimple, efficient and economical spring controlled means for holding thelid or closure in a raised position, such means being operated simply bymanipulating the lid in raising and lowering the same.

Another object of the invention is to provide a hinge for a swingingclosure or lid having improved counterbalancing spring means constructedto exert immaterial closing effort on the lid at its closed position buteffective to exert substantial effort or force on the lid so as toassist in raising and holding it in raised position.

Still another object of the invention is to improve the construction ofthe hinge structure so that it will be very compact and occupy a minimumof space, strong and durable and at the same time easy to manufacture,this latter being due in part to the improved relation of the partspermitting Simplicity in assembly operations.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved springcontrolled hinge structure in which the counterbalancing spring orsprings may be easily replaced or changed or the number thereof variedwithout affecting the operation of the device.

Other objects of this invention Will appear in the following descriptionand appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawingsforming a part of this specificationwherein like reference charactersdesignate corresponding parts in the several views.

Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear end of anautomobile body illustrating a deck lid or closure hinged to the body bymeans of hinge devices constructed in accordance with the presentinvention.

Fig. 2 is a plan view of one of the hinge devices.

Fig. 3 is a section taken substantially through lines 3--3 of Fig. 2looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of the hinge devices showing in full linesthe position of the parts when the deck lid is in raised position.

Before explaining in detail the present invention it is to be understoodthat the invention is not limited in its application to the details ofconstruction and arrangement of parts illustrated in the accompanyingdrawings. since the 2 invention is capable of other embodiments and ofbeing practiced or carried out in various ways. Also it is to beunderstood that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is forthe purpose of description and not of limitation.

In the embodiment of the invention herein illustrated, by way ofexample, the hinge device or structure is applied to an automobile bodyA Which has a rear metal panel B forming a sloping deck, trunk or othercompartment provided with an opening C into the compartment Which isadapted to be closed by means of a swinging lid or closure member 9. Inthe present instance the deck lid is supported on the body by means oftwo laterally spaced khinge devices or structures which are identical inconstruction as illustrated in Figs. 2 to 4 inclusive. A description ofone of these hinge devices will, therefore, sufiice and it will be notedthat the construction of the hinge devices is such that they occupy a,minimum of space Within the deck compartment thereby reducinginterference With articles stored within the compartment.

The hinge structure of the illustrated embodiment comprises a support Dadapted to be secured in xed position to the body within the roof orupper portion of the deck lid compartment forwardly of the upper edge ofthe opening C. The hinge device also comprises a swinging hinge memberor structure E hinged to the stationary support D and secured rigidly atits outer end to the underside of the deck lid 9.

' The stationary support D is formed from two metal angle members ID andll arranged with their upper flanges in the same plane, as shown in Fig.3, and with their depending flanges Illa and Ha arranged face to faceand spot Welded together. The upper fiange portions IG, ll of thesupport are provided with suitable holes 2 to receive screws by means ofwhich the support D may be rigidly secured to the body against the roofof the compartment C. The hinge member E comprises a pair of channels [3and [4 having their central webs positioned face to face and spot weldedtogether with the opposite flanges of the channels positioned in thesame plane. The channel members |3 and M terminate in widened coplanarportions I3a and Ma which are provided with holes 55 to receive screwsby means of which the hinge member may be rigidly secured to theunderside of the deck lid 9 at the upper edge thereof. The abuttingchannel members 13 and M are formed into substantially-a gooseneck inorder to embrace the upper edge of the deck lid opening. Thisconstruction permits sufiicient clearance for the swinging motion of thehinge members E while at the same time causing them to project as littleas possible into the deck lid opening. The channel members |3 and [4near their inner ends are spaced apart at IB to receive and embrace thedownwardly projecting portions lUb and Hb of the stationary support D.These portions are continuations of the fianges illa and Ha of thesupport, and where they project downwardly so as to extend between thespaced ends of the channel members 13 and |4 the top flanges I il and lof the support are cut away or removed. The overlapping portions of thechannel members [3 and M and the extensions IlJb, Hb of the support arehinged or pivoted together through the medium of a transverse hinge pinIT.

As clearly shown in Fig. 4, the inner spaced apart ends of the channelmembers IS and 4 are provided with upwardly and rearwardly extendingportions IB, each carrying a laterally projecting anchor pin or stud ISriveted thereto and to each of which the rear end of a coil tensionspring is connected. A pair of these springs are shown in the presentembodiment each having its rear end hooked over one of the pins or studs19 and having its forward end hooked at 2| through a hole in a lateralprojection 22 integral with one of the flanges Ina and Ha of thesupport. The anchoring means for the forward end of each spring 20 maybe'otherwise than in the form of an integral projection 22 extendingfrom the fiange of the supporting member, such as an angle piece securedthereto or a laterally projecting stud or pin.

It will be noted that the coil tension springs 20 are disposed directlybeneath the top fianges of the supporting member D and extendlongitudinally at opposite sides of the flanges I Oa and Ha in adirection substantially parallel thereto. This provides a very compactstructure with the springs ocoupying but little lateral space greaterthan that occupied by the stationary support. Moreover, it is importantto note that this construction permits the use either of a singletension spring 20 for use in connection with a relatively light deck lidor two tension springs, as illustrated in the drawings, for use inconnection with heavier lids. Since the `springs are arranged very closeto the center of the support and the pivot ll and the direction of theforce exerted by the springs is at all times in a vertical planeparallel to the plane of operation of the hinge arm, it will be seenthat one or two springs may be used to equal advantage, depending uponthe weight of the lid, without interfering with the proper operation ofthe device.-

It will'be understood that the tension springs 25 will be selected so asto have the proper size and strength to accommodate the weight of thelid, the springs when assembled being prestressed or pre-loaded so thatthey will substantially balance the weight of the lid. The fully closedposition of the lid is shown in dotted lines and the fully open orraised position is shown in full lines in Fig. 4. In the preferredconstruction the springs do not pass beyond the dead center position, i.e. an imaginary line passing through the end connections [9 and 2| ofthe spring does not pass below the axis of swinging of the hinge memberat I l. However, in the down or closed position of the lid the centrallongitudinal axis of the spring approaches very close to but slightlyabove the hinge axis H and, hence, in this position the spring, althoughstressed to its greatest extent, exerts no appreciable lifting effort onthe lid. In other words, when the lid is closed' the springs, althoughstressed to their greatest extent, exert no appreciable turning efforton the lid either in the upward direction or in the downward direction.This has the desirable effect of enabling the lid to remain closed underits own weight and preventing the springs from transmitting anyappreciable force on the looking means for the lid.

When the lid is in closed position it will be seen that the angularextensions I8 of the channel members |3 and I4, to the outer ends ofwhich the springs are connected at l9, extend rearwardly substantiallyin horizontal positions. As the lidis raised these extensions l8 swingupwardly and forwardly toward the vertical and the effort of the springsduring this movement becomes progressively effective in assisting inraising the lid. Thus, when the lid is fully raised the angularextensions IB will reach positions providing the most effective leverarms and the springs 20 will fully counterbalance the weight of the lidand cause it to remain in raised position. Since the extensions or leverarms |8 swing to the dotted line position of Fig.V 4 in which thetension springs are nearly in l'ne therewith it will be apparent that atthis time in the closed position of the lid the springs will exert noappreciable turning effort on the lever-arms. It will be noted that thelever arms l8 not only swing upwardly and downwardly in the regionbetween the pivotal axis H and the deck lid but also in the spacebetween the outer end of the support and the upper edge of the deckopening. Thus, these parts are mainly ccncealed and out of the way andWill not project into the compartment to interfere with contents storedtherein.

I claim:

1. A hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be raisedor lowered to open and close an opening, ccmprising a support adapted'to be located within a compartment and connected to a wall thereof, ahinge member adapted to be rigidly secured to a lid for saidcompartment, means for hinging said member to the support to swing upand down about a transverse axis, said memberl having an arm portionrigid therewith extending. angularly and outwardly from said axis in thedirection of said opening when the lid is in closed position, a tensionspring connected at one end to said arm portion out- Wardly of the hingeaxis and connected at its opposite end to the support at a distance fromsaid axis with the connected ends of the spring disposed at oppositesides of said axis, said arm portion adapted to swing toward and from agenerally vertical position as the lid is raised and lowered.

2. A hinge device for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be raised orlowered to open and close a compartment opening, comprising a supportgenerally T-shaped in cross section having a top portion adapted to besecured to the body within the compartment and having a depending legportion, a hinge member adapted to be secured to a lid for saidcompartment and having a bifurcated inner end embracing said leg portionand pivoted thereto to swing about a transverse axis, said hinge memberhaving its inner end beyond said axis forming a lever arm swingable inthe region between said axis and lid, and

a tension springconnecting said lever arm and support and extending in avertical plane substantially parallel to the vertical plane of movementof said hinge member. A

3. A hinge device for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be raised orlowered to open and close a compartment opening, comprising a supporthaving a top portion adapted to be secured to the body within thecompartment and having a depending leg portion, a hinge member adaptedto be secured to a lid for said compartment and having a bifurcatedinner end embracing said leg portion and pivoted thereto to swing abouta transverse axis, said hinge member having its inner end beyond saidaxis forming a lever arm swingable in the region between said axis andlid, and a tension spring connecting said lever arm and support andextending along one side of said leg portion substantially parallelthe-reto. V

4. A hinge device for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be raised orlowered to open and close a compartment opening, comprising a supporthaving a top portion adapted to be secured to the body within thecompartment and having a depending leg portion, a hinge member` adaptedto be secured to a lid for said compartment and having a bifurcatedinner end embracing said leg portion and pivoted thereto to swing abouta transverse axis, said hinge member having its inner end beyond saidaxis forming a lever arm swingable in the region between said axis andlid, and a tension spring connecting said lever arm and support atpoints located at opposite sides of said axis and extending along oneside of said leg portion.

5. A hinge structure for a swinging lid or closure adapted to be raisedor lowered to open and close a compartment opening, comprising a supporthaving a top portion adapted to be secured to the body Within thecompartment and having a depending leg portion, a hinge member adaptedto be secured to a lid for said compartment and having a pivotalconnection with the outer end of said depending leg portion within thecompartment so as to swing about its transverse axis, said hinge memberhaving al lever arm swingable in the region between said axis and lid,and coiled tension spring means connected to the lever arm and the innerend of the support to counterbalance the weight of said swinging lidWhile being raised or lowered to open or close said compartment opening,said pivotal connection lying between the connected ends of the springmeans when the lid is closed. V

JOHN H. ROETHEL.

REFERENCES .CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,418,919 Hall June 6, 19221,537,379 Scott May 12, 1925 1,610,461 Marshall Dec. 14, 1926 2,185,214Claud-Mantle Jan. 2, 1940 2,229,315 Sullivan Jan. 21, 1941 2,259,970Benzick Oct. 21, 1941 4 2,279,992 Jackson et al. Apr. 14, 1942 2,317,892De Orlow Apr. 2'7, 1943* 2,320,752 Roethel June 1, 1943 2,341,847Roethel Feb. 15, 1944 2,353,175 Marple July 11, 1944

